Motor-vehicle top



Nbv; 27, 1923.

A. MORRIS ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE 'IOP Filed Feb. 25

1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 27, 1923, 1,475,852

A. MORRIS ET AL MOTOR mucus TOP File d Feb. 25. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1923.-

A.MORR]S ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE To? Filed Feb. 25.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 a V V Y &

Nov. 27, 1923. 1,475,352

A. MORRIS ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE TOP 4 Sheets-Shegf 4 N @N f Filed Feb. 25 1922 s: srms orrlcis.

-'nm monnxs Ann newest: n. Room, or sale snan'crsoo, omronmi Application filed. aebrnary 25, 3922. Serial Ho. 539%97.

To ,oZlw/"wm it may concern: Be it known that we, Annxnnnnn Monroe and Eownno H. Hoo'rz, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State or California, have jointly invented a new and use ful Improvement in a Motor-Vehicle Top,

of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in tops for motor vehicles and the like wherein sidelights slidably mounted within the sides of a top are arranged to be moved and locked in any desired position.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved top arranged to be built upon the body of an open motor vehicle and characterized by a simplicity of constructionfacilitating the building and assembling of the top upon the vehicle, and affording a strength and ruggedness adapted to withstand long service.

Another object is to provide an improved lockin means operating in connection with slidab? mounted sidelights to permit the sidelig ts to be readily released and moved to any desired position and to effectively lock said sidelights in such position.

A further object is to provide means for taking up all wear, and all shrinkage or expansion of parts whereby the window may be firmly locked and all rattling of parts prevented at all times.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting for sidelights whereby the weight is supported upon receding rollers mounted within the lower edge of each sidelight and guided by tracks formed upon the lower top frame member along the edge of the body thus facilitating: movement of the sidelights and ermittin the sidelights to be more effectively loc ed against movement and rattlin A still further object is to provide a con struction, the operating parts of which may be readily removed for repair or replacement should any art be damaged after assembly upon the ve iicle.

We accomplish these and other objects, appeering hereafter, by means of the device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout said specification and drawings and in which,

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of a mo for vehicle showing our improved top built thereon, the sideli hts being shown locked in I a artially opened position.

ig. 2 is a broken side elevation partly in section of the top shown in Fig. 1, the sidelights being shown in unlocked position to permit movement thereof.

Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal section of an upper frame member shown upon a larger scale to disclose our'improved locking means. Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section of an upper frame member showing the manner in which the locking member is mounted therein.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through one, side of the top to show the lower frame member and the sidelight receiving tracks.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the locking memmr actuating means, the releasing position being shown in full lines and the locked position in dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section of an upper frame member.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of a lower frame member.

porting roller and its operation, the normal position being shown in full lines and the receded position. assumed when the window is locked, being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of an upper frame member showing the actuating lever.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate the body of a motor vehicle upon which is built a top designated in general by the numeral 2. The top 2 is provided with lower side frame members 3 screwed or otherwise secured upon the top of the sides of the vehicle 1 as best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and with the upper frame members 4 mounted in parallel spaced relation to the members 3. v

The upper frame members 4 are rabbeted upon their under sides to form longitudinally disposed recesses 6 adapted to receive locking members 7 having clips 8 secured upon the upper side of the roof to removably engage leaf springs 9 secured within the inner portion or the recesses 6. We prefer to mount four springs 9 within each top frame-member, said sprin s bein approximately equally spaced be can t e ends of the member 4, and having their free ends slightly downwardly bent to permit the clips 8 to be moved to engage the ends of t e spri s 9 whereby the member 7 is sup- -n23. A r m v l ck 1 s secu ed side-1i ghts 12,.

all

within the forward end. of the recess 6 to normally prevent longitudinal. movement of the member 7 within each upper frame member l.

The under side of each locking member 7 is provided With a. pair of parallel longitudinal grooves o each adapted to receive undengage the upper edge of a side light 12 slidubly mounted between the upper and lower frame members.

The lower edges of the sidelights 12 are supported upon the lower trzune members and are guided by tracks formed tliereon. Rollers rotetzibly mounted. upon frames 16 pivotully mounted within recesses ll" formed within the lower edge of each side light 12, are normally actuated by springs 15 to extend outwardly beyond the edge of the sidelight to support the Weight thereof upon the lower member 3, rollers serving to reduce friction and facilitate the movement of the sidelights along the tracks Between each spring 9 and the upper frame member is moui'ited e roller 18 not n'lelly engaging the spring adjacent its free end. The rollers 18 within. each upper frame member l are connected upon each side by links 19 carrying bearings 20 noon which the rollers l; rotate. The forwsrd ends of links 1?; within each. member extending inwardly to be operated by e person Within the vehicle. A spring 2 L is secured upon. the top of the lever 22 to norn'ially depress the some to hold a tooth 26 formed upon the underside thereof inv engagement with a toothed. reel; 27. By mesus of the links 19 and 2t and. the lever 22,

the rollers 18 may be advanced. between. their respective springs 9 and. the twins member etto depress the free end of said springs and thus move the looking memher 7 curried. thereby into locking engagement with the sideliglits 12. The amount of movement of the several rollers being equal, each will operate to wedge its spring; downwardly an amount equal. to each of tire other springs thus exerting e uniform. pres sure along the entire length of the member '7 the pressure thus applied. being sufficient to firmly lock the sidelight at any desired position along the tracks 18. end effectually preventing 'll rattling. 'ljhe springs ll. While exerting u firm and steely pressure against the member 7 and hence against the are sufliciently yieldeble to afi'orde resilience designed to take up any excessive pressure due to rocking or the body and to when the vehicle is traveling elonge mug road. Thisfeature of our inventionc'ree deem to be of especial importonce as by resiliently securing the sidclights we prevent breakage of the glass of said sidelights and parting oi? the joints of. the top due to the racking above mentioned, without impairing the firmness with which the sidelights are locked against movement and rattling.

The uction of the springs 19 and roller 18 in looking the window is disclosed in Figs. 3., l3, 7. Fig. 9 shows the manner in. which the rollers 14: are receded into the lower edge of the sidelights 12 when the member 2' is depressed against their upper edges, the sidellght being pressed downwardly against the pressure of the springs 15, to move pads 28 into firm frictional engagement with the lower frame member 3. When it is desired to release the sidelights to permit movement thereof to another position, the lever 22 is .nioved manually against the pressure of the spring 2% to cause the tooth 26 to disengage the ruck 27, the lever 22 being then moved to ivcede the rollers 18 from. between the springs 9 and the upper frame member, said springs being" thus released to lift the menu her 7 out of locking engagement with the sidelights 12, the upper edges of the sidelights being, however, still engaged and. guided by the grooves When released from the pres sure of the locking members T, the sidelights 12 are lifted by the springs 15 and may be rolled freely along the tracks 13 to the ole treine open or close positions or to any in.- terinediute position.

In the above manner the sidelights may be adjusted to suit the (lesireol the occupants of the vehicle, the adjustmentranging from an entirely closed compartment to one heving the sides entirely open.

The book and rearward ends of the sides together with the top covering are constructed in the usual manner and. require no especial description as such construction is well known in the art.

As disclosed in. the (ire-Wings, end previously mentioned in. the s ecificetion, we have providedflor the ready removal of all moving-ports for repair or adjustment. Cleats 31 of lihished. muteriel are screwed or otherwise se 'aured upon one side of the lower frame member 3 to define one side of the track 13, said cleats 3i being secured outside of the upholstery 82 with which the renia-indezg of the frame is covered. in this manner? being readily detachable without disturbing the upholstery when it is desired to remove the sidelights from between the none-r and. lower frame members. The sidelights niey now be advanced to e posit-ion matching with the removed. portion of the eleetend moved outwardly at the bottom sway from. the frame membe.

After removal of the side lights, if it is desired to obtain access rollers 18, the block 13. removed, and the to the springs 9 until lit- 3 rz: age wlll oecur only under most unusual circumstances, one of our prime objects being to eliminate all? delicate parts and adjustments.

The bottom of the tracks 13 are covered with a. suitable lining 33, durable material, preferably of a character adapted to reduce noise caused by rolling the sidelights thereon, said lining 33 being subjected to all the wear from the rollers l and thus preventing Wear upon the upholstery 32 with which the member 3 is covered. The member 3 is cut transversely to match. with the door openings of the vehicle body to permit opening and closing of the doors in the usual manner.

Having thus described our invention What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. The combination with a motor vehicle of a top built. upon the body of said vehicle,

raid top having upper and lower frame members upon each side thereof; side-lights slidably mounted between the upper and lower frame members; springs secured: within the upper frame members; guide members mountedwi'thin the upper frame members and engaged by the springs ;a roller mounted between each spring and the upper frame members; and means for advancing the rollers simultaneously between the springs and the upper frame members to depress the springs and the guide members engaged thereby against the sidelights whereby said side-lights may be resiliently locked in any desired positions.

of a top built upon the body of said vehicle, said top having upper and lower frame members upon each side thereof; side-lights slid-ably mounted between the upper and lower frame members: s )rim s secured Within the upper frame members; guide members mounted within the upper frame members and engaged by the springs; a roller mounted between ach spring and the upper frame members; means for advancing the rollers simultaneously between the springs and the upper frame members to depress the springs and the guide members engaged thereby against the sidelight-s whereby said side-lights may be resiliently locked in any desired positions; and means for securing said rollers in advanced position.

3. in a top for motor vehicles, upper frame members rabbcled upon their under sides; a pluralitv of leaf springs secured within each rabbet: an upper guide member reu1ovably engaged by the springs and supported thereby within the rabbet of each upper frame memberrollers mounted botwcezr .movemcnt of side-lights slidably mounted thereunder; a roller mounted between each spring and its frame member; and means for advancing the rollers Within each frame member simult-aneously to depress the springs whereby the guide member moved into locking: relation with the side-lights.

In witness whereof, we hereunto set our signatures.

ALEXANDER Mounts. EDWARD n. nou'rz. 

